Blog Post

Something very odd happened this summer: I became a gardener. Heretofore, I have had absolutely no trace of a green thumb. In fact, if anything, I have had a “black thumb” and been highly adept at killing vegetation. (Often inadvertently, but sometimes…well…) Nonetheless, about May I realized that the flowerbeds at the church were starting to look like set dressing from Mogambo and figured I’d better try to at least get the weeds out and trim back the growth, which was already there. Making a long story short, this all has turned into an adventure where I’ve totally removed, re-planted, and cared for all the foliage at the church. In this unexpected act, have come some very pertinent church-lessons for yours truly.

Firstly: The things God calls us to are often the things that we have shown no aptitude in or at least are pretty sure we have no aptitude in. Prior to this summer, I couldn’t grow much of anything and yet; here I am, several months later with several prospering beds of floral wonder.

Secondly: Just because you’re called to it, does not mean it’s going to be easy. Holy crap! Flowers can be a pain in the rear end! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve gotten mud, sap, bug guts, etc. on clothing that I did not intend to get dirty. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to give extra fertilizer or water to certain plants that -for no logical reason- were being difficult. I also can’t tell you how many times I have cussed my blasted geraniums because they just wouldn’t bloom like they were supposed to! Also, tearing out over-grown foliage is a great way to irritate those pinched nerves -that you didn’t know you had- in your lower back.

Thirdly: Speaking of those blasted geraniums, things (or blooms) will rarely happen when you want them to -try as you might- but they often will happen -instead- when you least expect them to. Though highly annoying, there is something utterly magical about this.

Fourth: Just because you’re putting your heart and soul into something, doesn’t guarantee it’s going to work. Sometimes, the things you have just don’t match up to the things you need. Case in point: begonias. I planted $70.00 worth of begonias this summer. As of this writing, none of them have survived. I watered, fertilized, trimmed, and loved on those little buggers in every which way I could. They all still died in a rather unceremonious fashion. In this frustration I learned it was critical to get plants that not only looked good, but also were a good match with your soil, moisture, and sun offerings, otherwise you’d just simply be setting yourself up for failure.

Finally, even though it’s difficult, scary, new, and frustrating, that doesn’t mean it’s not amazing. Over and in-spite of all the things above, I have learned to love gardening in these flowerbeds. It’s been therapeutic, life giving, and engaging in ways I hadn’t ever expected. From speaking to neighbors who were thrilled that we -finally- were looking after the gardens, to the lessons above that I’ve taken to heart, gardening has been a spiritual oasis that I never saw coming. (Though, I’m still not sure about those cursed geraniums…)

In all of this, I suppose there’s a lesson about stepping out (or maybe stepping into) those needs that we see in this world. It may not be easy, but it just might be magical!